wheaton



Dec. 4, 1928.

1,694,242 A. W. WHEATON, JR t FAUCET WRENCH Filed Feb. 19, 1925 Patented Dec. 4, 1923,

narran .erasing 'llitdle Fipl'ihll" @FFEQEM ABRAM W. WHEATN, JR., QF MAELEWOOD, NEVJ JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO A. W. WHEATON BRASS VVOEK, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORFORATIN.

FAUGEI WRENCH.

Application filed February The present invention relates to operating means for valves.

Vifhen dispensing gasoline and the like from a iillino station or from a tank wagon, it is desirable to make provision for automatically shut-tingl ofi' the fioW in the event of fire, both to avoid loss of the product and also to prevent. feeding inflammable material to the iianies. 'llhe faucets commonly used for dispensing products of this character are of the self closing type, that is to say, of the type in 'Which the control valve is closed by the yielding pressure of the head of liquid or of a spring or Weight and opened by meaV of a wrench operating such yielding pressure to open the valve. 'lhe operating Wrench may be held in valve opening position, or it may be provided With means for locking it in such position. rlhis invention has for an object to provide a Wrench of the type provided With means for temporarily retaining it in valve opening position, such means being commonly referred to as locking means, wherein provision is also made for automatic release in case of fire to permit closing of the valve.

The nature and objects of the invention Will be better understood from a description of a particular illustrative embodiment thereof for the purposes of which description reference should be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in Which- Figure 1 is a side view of a faucet with a wrench embodying` the invention applied thereto;L

Figure 2 is a rear vien7 of the same; and

Figures 3 and t are perspective views of a part of the Wrench.

ln the structure shown, the self closing faucet 5 has a horizontal valve operating spindle 6 rotation of which in a countercloekwise direction, as shown in Figure 1, opens the faucet valve. A wrench 7 is applied to the spindle (i and movable dovvnnardly in a plane at right angles to the axis of the valve operating spindle to open the valve. As shown the Wrench comprises two parts, a socket member 8 engaging the valve spindle 6, and a handle member 9 pivoted to the socket member by a pivot pin 10, the axis of which lies at a right angle to the axis of the valve operating spindle to permit movement of the handle laterally with respect to the plane of normal operative movement of the Wrench as it moves about the 19, 1925. Serial N0. 10,160.

axis of the spindle 6 to operate the valve. The socket member 8 is provided with a relatively long hub extending to one side Whereby the Wrench can be easily applied to the valve operating spindle when it is in pro- G tected position Within a recess as (shown. The socket member has suiticiently extended bearing upon the spindle 6 to hold said socket member against movement laterally from the plane of its normal operative movement. G ily this arrangement lateral movement of the handle 9 about its pivot 10 will not rock the socket member or 'tend to free it from engagement with. the spindle (i.

The pivoted handle member is formed to engage a suitable stop to hold the valve spindle in valve opening position. As shown, it is provided With a laterally extending project-ion 12 arranged to engage beneath a lug 13 formed on the faucet easing. ln order that vthevalve may be automatically closed in case of lire means are provided which upon application of heat will cause the locking means to disengage. ln the device shown the projection 12 is made fusible, at least in part. As shown the projection 12 comprises a separate two part member 141 which is attaehable to the arm 15 of the handle 9 by means of a bolt 16 extending through a suitable hole in the arm 15. This member 14 is shown as built up of a stop engaging part 17 and an arm engaging part 18 suitably-secured together by a solder 19 having a relatively low melting point. The member 17 can be cut from square tubular material and the member 18 can be formed from a blank shaped and folded to fit at one end the member 17 and to provide substantially parallel ears 20 which may be fitted against the opposite sides of the arm 15 and securely clamped thereagainst by means of a bolt 16. This fusible member 14 being separable, as shown, can be readily replaced in the event of damage or breaking thereof either in use or due to rough handling.

In use when the wrench is operated to open the valve the handle member is moved laterally to bring the projection 12 beneath the lug 13 of the faucet casing thereby to hold the valve bearing spindle in valve opening position. In the event of a lire the fusible member 14 part-s from the section 19 as soon as the solder of this section becomes softened by the heat thus releasing the valve spindle and valve to shut 0E the flow. The section ion 18 of the fusible member is easily detachable from the arm 15 and replaceable by a complete new fusible member 14. It is also advantageous to have the fusible sect-ion made separable and therefore easily replaceable because of the danger of breaking thereof under the conditions of use.

The foregoing description of a particular form of Wrench is intended as illustrative of the invention merely and not to be construed as defining the limits of vthe invention.

I claim:

1. An attachable Wrench for operating a self closing faucet comprising a valve spindie engaging member for engaging a valve operating spindle of a faucet and a handle member pivoted to said valve spindle engaging member for movement laterally with respect to the plane of normal operating more ment of said handle and having a projeotien engage'able with a suitable stop to hold the valve operating spindle in valve opening position, there being a fusible section between said projection and the point of pivotal conneetion to the valve spindle engaging member.

2. An attachable Wrench for operating a self closing faucet comprising a valve spindle engaging member attachable to a valve operating spindle of the faucet, and a latch member pivotally connected to said valve spindle engaging member to move relative thereto about an axis at right angles to the axis of the engaged valve operating spindle to permit moven'ient of said latch member to and from engagement with a stop for holding said Wrench in predetermined position, said latch member having a detachable stop engaging member comprising a fusible ser'- tion to permit release of the valve operating spindle upon application ot heat.

A-n attachable tivo part Wrench for operating a self closing faucet comprising a valve spindle engaging member attachable to a valve operating spindle of the faucet and a handle member pivoted to the valve spindle engaging member to swing laterally relative thereto and engageable With a liXed stop to be held in valve opening position, said handle member having a fusible section between the point of engagement With the stop and the point of engagement ivitn the valve spindle engaging member t cause release ef the valve operating spindle upon application of heat to said handle member.

4. An attachable Wrench for operating a self closing valve comprising a valve spindle engaging part and a stop engaging part f'itli a fusible portion between the socket and stop engaging part whereby upon application oi heat the fusible portion Will yield and cause release of the valve spindle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 30th day of January, 1925.

ABRAM lV. WHEATON, JR. 

